The story of a Starry Night (part 1)

This is the story of a project that has been in and out of the WIP box for over 5 years!  It has been frogged and reworked more times than the designer cares to count.  It has been cussed at even more times than that.

Once upon a time, there was a Scheepjes Whirl called "Banana Cream Hi".  It arrived at a little yarn and craft shop called Rainbow Valley. This Whirl was clever, so when it found out that not only was the owner a designer but also that one of her favourite paintings was "The Starry Night", Banana Cream Hi shouted at her that he wanted to be a Starry Night as well, especially as he already looked so much like the painting.

The designer mulled this over and, after some time agreed. So the process was started. Then Banana Cream Hi said to his friend the "Custard" Whirlette, "Would you like to join in? You match me perfectly!". Of course, Custard agreed.

The stars were created from the middle of Banana Cream Hi and this worked really well.  The shading from the creamy banana colour to the brighter lemon created some variety in the stars. Then it was the turn of the swirls - which is where Custard came in. This did not go as planned. The whole project ended up in the F Bucket!!!!

In February 2022 the project gained a new purpose, and a deadline, as the designer wanted to wear it for her parents Diamond Wedding in August. Both Banana Cream Hi and Custard were replaced with scrap yarn.  They did not mind, they both knew that the repeated frogging was bad for them so they were to let the rif-raf take the fall! Eventually, the designer created the effect she was looking for.

The down side was that the relationship between Banana Cream Hi and Custard was not plain sailing.  Custard was too pale and did not bring the depth of colour that Starry Night required. Everything was just too insipid. The designer frogged again and made 7 full stars instead of 5.  This meant that the blue started coming through on the swirls. She still needed more blue.

With all of this going on, the designer did not get the finish and wear the shawl for her parents anniversary.

Discussions with her mother made her decide that Custard was just not up to the job, continuing with him would be a big mistake and spoil the whole effect.

The bottom of the painting was dark, not pale lavender which was Custards colour.

When she got home, the project went back into the bucket and there it stayed for quite some time!

Kindly, Unassuming Spirit — But You’ve Got to Go

I love celandines!  Their small, cheerful bright yellow flowers and heart-shaped leaves brighten up the garden in early spring.

The Lesser Celandine is a native British woodland plant that prefers shady or semi-shady areas.  It’s a spring ephemeral, meaning it pops up early in spring, flowers quickly, and then dies back completely by late spring or early summer. They have glossy, buttercup-like yellow flowers (typically 8–12 petals) that bloom close to the ground and leaves that are dark green, shiny, and often heart- or kidney-shaped. They are a symbol of early spring, rebirth, and renewal in poetry.  Wordsworth even wrote multiple poems about the "Kindly, unassuming spirit"!

Lesser celandines provide some early nectar and pollen for bees — particularly solitary bees and queen bumblebees just emerging from hibernation.

They flower very early (often February to April), which is prime time for hungry pollinators looking for a boost. Their bright yellow flowers are easily spotted and do produce nectar and pollen.

So why am I digging them all up? They are the botanical equivalent of that charming guest who overstays their welcome… shows up early, brightens everything with their sunny personality, and then takes over the whole house before quietly vanishing for the summer, leaving chaos in their wake.

They grow from tubers and produces small bulbils in leaf axils.  It reproduces both by seed and vegetatively through tubers and bulbils — making it hard to control once established.  In many parts of the U.S. and Canada, lesser celandine is considered a problematic invasive species because it forms dense mats that outcompete native spring wildflowers.

I know very well that I will never get them all and they will be back next year in full force. I have a lot of bulbs and perennials and have found that by clearing what I can find now gives the rest of the garden a chance to flourish.

I am not trying to conquer every inch, just giving the bulbs and perennials the breathing room they need to shine.

Business Branding

I have been very despondent lately with the way things are going in the shop. While I have greatly reduced my outgoings, my sales have also taken a hit. This morning I had a Business Branding planning meeting with Rob Morris. Over plenty of coffee, we discussed ways to raise my profile online. We also discussed various aspects of the business, which ones to concentrate on and which ones to put on the back burner.

One of the results of this meeting was that a pattern I was considering saving as a CAL, is now going to be published as soon as I finish it. This pattern is one of the many that has been sitting in a WIP folder on my computer for a long time. It is about time it saw the light of day. It is called Starry Night and is a tibute to one of my favourite paintings by one of my favourite artists, Vincent van Gogh.

Back to Blogging!

Sometimes, I get these ideas in my head that will not go away.

Then I realise how much work they are going to be!

Do I think "No! Don't do it!!!!" Nope. I mull it over, sometime for a little longer than other times, then I go and do it anyway.

This is one of those times. I have decided to get back to blogging.

There have been so many changes over the last few years, some good, some bad and some downright ugly. The plan is to start now and work backwards to fill in the gaps. Here is a synopsis of life since the last sporadic posts in 2017/2018 Good: I acquired a Fluffy Puppy in August 2017 Good: I opened a shop in September 2018

Ugly: Covid meant I had to shut the shop in March 2020 Ugly: I had a bit of a melt down from the stress. Good: I took up Gardening Good: I had more time for designing

Good: I discovered that I have green fingers. Good: I grew lots of tomatoes

Good: I have made a lot of friends because of the shop. Bad: Shop not doing as well as hoped so had to move to a new, smaller shop. Good: At least the shop is still open and only working part time in it means more time for designing, gardening and, of course, blogging!

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 15

Block 23 is Ripples This uses stitches we have already learned. The colour changes create the ripple effect.

Block 24 is Shells It uses basic Tss for putting the stitches on, although you do need to be careful where you pick them up. The pattern is created when taking the stitches off.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 14

Block 21 is Puff Hearts This stitch was chosen by one of my students. It uses a Tunisian Puff stitch which is very similar to its regular crochet counterpart.

Block 22 is Petals This makes use of the new stitch from Block 21 and combines it with a few others! You need to make sure that you follow the instructions carefully for this one.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 13

Block 19 is Slipped Stitch Slipping the stitches creates an unusual pattern that is simple to work. However, it can also make the rows closer together giving a shorter block.

Block 20 is Seed Stitch Seed Stitch is a combination of Tks and Trs to create the look of a traditional knitted seed stitch.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 12

Block 17 is Tunisian Reverse Stitch Tunisian Reverse Stitch (Trs) looks similar to Tunisian Purl Stitch (Tps). It is easier to work than Tps, more like Tss but working into the back loops.

Block 18 is Relief Hearts This uses a combination of Tks and Trs to create an almost shadow like effect.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 11

Block 15 is Honeycomb Honeycomb combines Tss and Tps in a different way to create an interesting pattern.

Block 16 is Cross Stitch This uses Tss in yet another way to create the pattern. This stitch can be a bit tighter to create a narrower block.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 10

Week 10 is all about joining the blocks. In a break from tradition, we are going to learn how to join the blocks half way through the CAL instead of at the end. For those who have never used Crab St before, there is a tutorial.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 9

Block 13 is Tunisian Purl Stitch (Tps). Another new stitch which closely resembles purl stitch in knitting.

Block 14 is Basket Weave. This block is made using a combination of Tks and Tps to create a traditional basket weave effect.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 8

Block 12 is Diamond Bobbles This block combines the techniques we learned in “Polish Star” and “Bobbles”. Make sure that you carefully read both picking up the loops and closing them before working each row.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 7

Block 7 is Polish Star This block looks complicated but isn’t! Tss is used to put the loops on and the loops are made on the closing. The hardest part is lacing up the loops at the end.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 6

Block 10 is Bobbles Bobbles are made using 3 Tunisian Double Trebles (Tdtr) in the same stitch then all 3 are taken off together.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL,RVCAL2025,CAL,

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 5

Block 8 is Tunisian Knit Stitch (Tks) This block teaches you a new stitch. For those who have not worked with Tunisian before, there is a separate photo tutorial to download.

Block 9 is Fans It uses stitches we have already learned combinined with the hook placement of Tks.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 4

Block 7 is Brick Stitch This is mostly Tss but uses Ttr (US-Tdc) to create the “Brick Wall” effect. The Ttr is worked in to the same colour 2 rows below and missing the Tss in the row directly below, so that you still have the same number of loops on your hook at the end.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 3

Block 5 is Tunisian Trebles (US - Tunisian Double Crochet) This block is a little looser than the most of the other blocks but works up really quickly.

Block 6 is Waves Another new stitch in this block. The important thing to remember is that most Tunisian stitches are the same as their regular counterparts but with the last but one loop left on the hook.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 2

Block 3 is Bamboo This block builds on the basic Tss with a small twist to create a totally different effect.

Block 3 is Mini Wrap Again, it builds on what we have already learned with a slightly different twist.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

Tunisian Patchwork CAL - Week 1

Block 1 is Tunisian Simple Stitch This stitch is the Tunisian version of the Double Crochet (dc) in regular crochet or Single Crochet (sc) if you use US terms. If you have never tried Tunisian before, there is also a photo tutorial included in the download.

Block 2 is Tricolour Tss. It is just regular Tss but teaches you to change colours.

It is not too late to join the Tunisian Patchwork CAL if you would like to. Full details are on the CAL page on Rainbow Valley.

A Mad Tea Party

Block 5

“Twinkle, twinkle, little bat! How I wonder what you're at!” “You know the song perhaps?” “I have heard something like it,” said Alice. “It goes on, you know,” the Hatter continued, “in this way: “Up above the world you fly, Like a tea tray in the sky.”

Full information is on the regular CAL page at Rainbow Valley